Wednesday

Pneumococcal & Rotavirus

You see, this vaccine, also called Prevnar, protects against pneumococcal infections – which mostly strike children under age 5. The infection can lead to some of the worst childhood diseases.

According to the World Health Organization’s current estimates, one child dies of a pneumococcal disease every minute.

Pneumococcal infection can cause ear infection, sinus infection, pneumonia, blood infection (bacteremia), and meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain). About 1 out of every 20 people who get pneumococcal pneumonia dies from it, as do about 2 out of every 10 who get bacteremia, and 3 out of 10 who get meningitis.

The infection is caused by pneumococcus bacteria, also known as Streptococcus pneumoniae. These bugs live in the mucous lining of the nose and in the back of the throat, and when plentiful enough can cause an infection in the respiratory tract, middle ear, or sinus cavities.

Pneumococcal bacteria are spread by close contact and through coughing and sneezing. Diseases such as meningitis and pneumonia can crop up within days of infection.

Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia usually include fever and chills with shaking or trembling, as well as chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, fatigue, and weakness.

Babies who are sent to day-care are at the highest risk of getting this terrible disease. So, it is wise to get your baby vaccinated as soon as possible.

Pneumococcal vaccine is not included in the compulsory immunisation schedule. You need to check with your baby’s doctor about the vaccine.

According to baby Rayyan’s paed, he will get 4 doses of vaccine. The first dose during his 2 month (done), the second dose will be given during Rayyan's 3 month (done) and the 3rd dose during Rayyan's 5 month (done) and the 4th dose will be given when he turns one and half year old.

Pneumococcal vaccine is quite pricey – about RM300+ per dose. So, total for the whole vaccine is around RM1,000 plus. There are 2 types of pneumococcal injection (yg mahal and murah) -

Expensive eh? Not really. RM1,000 is nothing compared to the life of your baby!

How about Rotavirus?

Rotavirus is a virus that infects the bowels. It is the most common cause of SEVERE diarrhea among infants and children throughout the world and causes the death of about 600,000 children worldwide annually.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, vomiting and watery diarrhea which can cause severe dehydration. Severe dehydration can lead to death so hospitalization for intravenous fluid (drip) is needed.

Rotavirus infection is highly contagious. Almost all children will become infected with rotavirus by their third birthday!

So, we decided to give baby Izzah the protection against Rotavirus too (the recommended age is 2, 4 and 6 months old).

The Rotavirus vaccine is known as Rotarix.

There are two vaccines available. One is Rotarix (RM180 each) and given two doses (once in a one month gap). Another is RotaTeq which is cheaper (RM100 each) and given three doses (once in a one month gap).